Chain closure and partition for openings



March 25,. 1958 E. M. LEE 2,827,958

CHAIN CLOSURE AND PARTITION FOR OPENINGS Filed Aug. 3, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 59 as a/ INVENTOR. Earn-e52 M. Lee.

March 25, 1958 E. M. LEE

CHA'IN CLOSURE AND PARTITION FOR OPENINGS 4 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1955 INVENTOR. Earnest M Lee awn;

ATTORNEY6.

March 25, 1958 .E. M. LEE 2,327,958

. CHAIN CLOSURE AND PARTITION FOR OPENINGS Fild Aug. 3, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 M M5 A9? 2 2/ 4 41! a l 46 farnesz M i 6 1; #w J Maw 48 94 i ATTORNEYS.

March 25, 1958 E. M. LEE 2,327,958

CHAIN CLOSURE AND PARTITION FOR OPENINGS I I Filed Aug. ,3, 1955 4 Sheets-She 4 INVENTOR..

m M 6 I22 (d ms 25 far/veal N. lee. I2 I32 BY MfMJw 9s ATTORNEYS.

CHAIN CLOSURE AND PARTITION FOR OPENINGS Earnest M. Lee, Mission, Kane.

Application August 3, 1955, Serial No. 526,303

8 Claims. (Cl. 160-628) This invention relates to barriers or partitions for trucks, trailers, railroad cars, and similar conveyances to separate one lot ofmerchandise or shipment from another andto prevent shifting or loss of the individual items from the respective shipments.

The principal object of the invention is to provide barriers" or partitions offiexible character and which are readily adjustable to the position, shape and bulk of the respective-shipments which they separate.

Other objects of the invention are to provide barriers or partitions formed of vertical and transverse chains that are of strong, light-Weight construction and adapted tobe collapsed from an extended position to a position of storage on one side wall of the conveyance as when theconveyance is being loaded or when the barriers are not to be used; to provide transverse supports or bars for suspendingthe chains and on which they are slidable to and from their stored position; to provide simple and" rigid bracketsfor carrying the supporting bars and which are provided with means for preventing side bars of the barriers from jumping. out of latched position; and to provide an" improved locking means for the barriers.

Other objects of the invention are to provide tracks along the respective sides of. a conveyance and on which the partitions or barriers are movable to conform with the size of the shipments that are separated thereby, to

Fig. 1 is a rear-end view of a conveyance such as a motor'truck, equipped with partitions or barriers embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section through the body of the conveyance showing the partitions or barriers, in plan and separating individual lots or shipments of merchandisc;

Fig; 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the barrier closing the open rear end of the truck and particularly illustrating the locking and tensioning mechanism'therefor. l a

'Fig; 4 is a cross-section through the lock.

Fig. 51is.a front elevation of the lock, with parts being showntin section to better illustratethe construction, and attached to the outer side of the side bar at the chain barrier;

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

,Fig. -7 is a horizontal section showing the lock attached to the inner side of the side bar, the section. being taken.

on -the -line 7--7 of Fig. 8. ig il is. a: fragmentary section, on the line 8-8 as well as the connection of. the side or tensioning barof the barrier with the bracket.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of the invention wherein the partitions or barriers are movable in opposite directions from the center of the truck.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of one of the outer bracketsv and showing; mounting of, the supporting bar thereby.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the bracket.

Fig. 14 is a plan view-of a portion of the tracks and showing the trolleys for carrying the bars. which suspend the intermediate partitions.

Fig. is a cross-section through one of the tracks andtrolleyonthe line 1515in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 t is a similar section on the line 16-16 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view showing the snaps for attaching the sides of intermediate barriers or partitions to strips that extend along the inner sides of the truck body. p

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a conveyance for transporting freight and the like, such as a motor truck or trailer. The conveyance 1 includes a body 2 having a floor 3, side walls 4 and 5, atop 6, and a forward cnd'7 forming a compartment 8 for containing goodsand other articles and protecting them While under transportation. Usually such trucks have an openrear end 9 cl'osed byhingeddoors, end gates and like barriers; However, such closures are objectionable because many types interfere with loading space within the truck and other types interfere with loading docks and other outside obstructions. They also are apt to become loose and produce road hazards.

The present invention pertains. to a closure or barrier 10 of the type disclosed in my copending application for patent on Chain Closure for Openings, Serial No. 432,411. A barrier of thistype: offers no interference and is easily operable and securely:retained in closed position. The barrier 10 includes a transverse bar 11 which maybe formedof pipe or other tubular material. The bar 11 is of a length to cooperate with supporting brackets 12 and 13 for spanning-the width of the opening 9 at a point immediatclybelow the top 6'. The bracket 12 has a plate portion 14and a cylindrical boss 15. projecting therefrom to engage within the open end 16 of the transverse bar 11',,Fig.. 10; The plate. portion 14 of the bracket is illustrated in the drawings as. being attached to the inner face 17 ofthe. side jamb 18A of the opening 9 by means of fasteningidevices, such asscrews 19. The screws 19 extend through openings 20 in: the plate portion 14 and into the jam: 18. r

The bracket 13 also. has a plate portion 21 which is somewhat moreelongatedthan the plate portion of the other bracket, to accommodate screws or other fastening devices 23 bywhich it.is attached to the opposite jamb 24. Projecting from the plate portion 21 at a point above the screws, is alug 25 of generally circular cross-section and terminates in a-smaller cylindrical boss 26 correspondingwith theiboss 15 oft the other bracket and-which engages within that: end of the transverse bar 11 with the end'of the; bar abutting against the shoulder 27 at the baseof the boss 26. TheportiQn-ZS of the bracket has a keeper portion. 28 spaced from the. plate portion 21 to provide a downward passage 29 therebetween. The passage 29 has a lateraltterr'ninal 30 located directly under the keeper: to; secure a slide hanger 31 the barrier, later described;

for aside bar 32 of The passage 29 extends down the sides of the bracket, as indicated at 33, on a curvature having substantially the same radius as the transverse bar 11. The lug is braced with respect to the plate portion of the bracket by spaced apart ribs 34, as best shown in Fig. 9.

Fixed to the jamb 18 is a vertical bar 35, preferably an angle, having one flange 36 turned inwardly and positioned in spaced relation with the inner face 17 of the jamb to allow room for heads 37 on the shanks 38 of swivel hooks 39, Fig. 6. The other flange 40 of the bar 35 laps the outer face of the jamb 18 and is secured thereto at points along the length of the bar by fastening devices such as screws 41.- Thefshanks 38 of the hooksswivel within openings 42 in the inwardly extending flange 36, also shown in Fig. 6. The swivel hooks 39 are arranged in spaced relation along the height of the bar 35 in accordance with a desired spacing for horizontally arranged transverse chains 43 of the barrier,-later described.

The opposite ends of the transverse chains 43 are secured to the side or tensioning bar 32 by means of swivels 44. The sidebar 32 may also comprise an angle having an inwardly extending flange 45, Figs. 3 and 6, and a flange 46 positioned substantially in plane with the door opening. The flange 46 has openings 47 spaced along the height thereof in accordance with the spacing of the openings 42 in the bar 35 to mount the shanks 48 of the swivels 44. The swivels 44 initially have open hooks 49 to which the end links 50 of the transverse chains are engaged, the links being selected in accordance with the width of the opening 9 after which the open hooks 49 are closed to secure the tensioning' bar 32 thereto. The slide hanger 31 which suspends the tensioning bar 32 is best shown in Fig. 10. The hanger 31 has a ring 52 of a diameter to be freely slidable along the length of the transverse bar and to seat within the passage 29 so as to anchor the upper end of the tensioning bar and forma fulcrum therefor, as later described. The ring 52 has a shank 53 that is secured to the upper end of the tensioningbar by fastening devices, such as bolts 54. The shanks of the bolts extend through the shank ofthe bracket and. through the inturned flange of the bar. The lower end ofthe tension ing' bar terminates slightly above the floor 3.

Thejbar carries a lock 55, including a block-shaped inturned flange of the bar 32 by fastening. devices, such as bolts 62, Fig. 6. The bolt 61 has a substantially T-shaped head 63 of a thickness substantiallyconforming to the diameter of the shank but of greater width to provide shoulders 64. The side faces 65 of the head are I substantially flat but the end edges 66 converge slightly to facilitate movement of the head through an elongated slot 67 that is provided in an outturne'dear. 68 of an angle bracket 69, the other ear 70 of which is attachedto the outer face of the side jamb 24, as shown in Fig. 3, by

meansof screws 71. The opposite end of the shank 60 has a flat sided head 72 for attaching a cam lever 73, as

shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The cam lever 73 includes a yoke 74 having portions 75 thereof shaped to provide cam faces 76 to engage the face of the block '56 and cap plate 59, respectively. Positioned eccentrically'of the cam faces 76 are, openings 77 which pass a pivot pin 78 on which the lever 73 is pivoted, the pivot pin 78 being retained by riveting the ends thereof 'over the portions 75 of the yoke 74. The cam lever includes a handle portion 79 for operating the bolt 61 and which has a slot 80 to pass a lug 81 that projects from the-block 56 and which 7 has an openinghZ for the hasp of a padlock $2 (Fig. 1),

for securing thercam;lever in locking position; i In order 1 to control the turning movement ofthe latch bolt, the shank thereof has a pin 83 projecting laterally, thereof 4 r v and which is guided in a groove 84 of the block 56. The end of the groove forms a stop for the pin when' the head of the bolt is in position to enter the slot 66 of the ears 67.

in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8, where the barrier is placed on the inner side of the side jarnbs, the block 55 is secured on the inner side face of the flange 45 and secured by the fastening devices 62. The keeper 68 is similarly placed on an inner face of the jarnh 24 but the parts of the lock mechanism are the as shown in Fig. 6. However, in this placement of the lock, the flange 46 must have an opening 67 in registry with the slot 67 of the keeper 68'.

The arrier also includes vertical chains 85 which have their upper ends suspended from the bar 11 by means of closed hooks 86, having shanks 87 that are swivelly retained within collars 88 of the rings 89, that slide upon the transverse bar 11 when the chain closure is moved to and from closed position, as later described.

The horizontal chains 43 have selected links 91 which are loosely retained within links 92 of the chains 85. This is effected by spreading theside bars 93 and 94 of the links 92 and passing the links 91 therebetween, after which the side bars 93 and 94 are pressed together to their original position, thus while the links 91 are looselyretained within the links 92 they are restricted by the adjacent links 95 and 96 of the horizontal chains. It is obvious, that this manner of forming connection between the vertical and horizontal chains furnishes flexibility and allows for free movement of the chains when the vertical chains are moved along the transverse bar ll to and from open and closed position and to permit the vertical chains to be gathered closely and the horizontal chains to hang loosely in a small, compact mass at the side of the jamb 18. r v

The present invention also contemplates similar partitions or barriers 97 thatare adjustably movable along the length of the side walls and which are flexible to accommodate the position thereof to correspond in size and shape with the individual lots of merchandise which they separate. For example, it has become a practice to transport merchandise over land directly to the address of the consignee, therefore, the partitions or barriers are desirable in separating one consignees goods from another and also to restrict shifting of the load. e

The barriers 97 include vertical and transverse chains 98 and 99 with selected links of the transverse chains extending freely through selected links of the vertical chains so as to maintain spacing thereof and provide the flexibility whereby the barriers may be collapsed at one side of the truck body and to be extended for separating. each lot of goods as the truck is loaded. The partitions 97 thus closely and securely contain the lots of merchandise to avoid lost space. In order that the barriers may be adjustable along the length of the compartment of the truck, the side walls 4 and 5 are equipped near the top 6 thereof with longitudinal tracks 100 and 101, Figs. 14, '15 and 16. The tracks are of substantially channeled.

, cross-section and have web portions 102 attached to the side walls of the truck by fastening devices 103 (Figs. 15 and 16). The upper flanges 104 of the tracks extend inwardly under the top 6 but the lower flanges 105 curve inwardly and upwardly, as shown in Fig. 16 to provide rolling supports for wheels 106 of trolleys 107 and 108'. Each trolley includes a longitudinal member 109-carrying at the ends thereof studs 110 for mounting the wheels 166.;Projecting from the opposite faces of the. longitudinal members 109 at a point intermediate the mounting of the wheels 106 is a lug 111 for the trolley." 167 and a lug 112 for the trolley 108. Pivotally connected with each lug and movable on a vertical axis is a slotted head 113. The lugs 111 and 112 enter the slots of' the heads after which pivot pins 114 are extended through the heads and lugs as shown. The pins, are retained in position by heads 115 on one end and cotter 5. pins 116 that are inserted in the other end. Projecting from the slotted heads 113 are cylindrical lugs. 117 and 11$ for the respective trolleys to mount transverse bars 119. The transverse. bars 119 are also of tubular form and have the ends thereof sleeved upon the projecting lugs 117 and 118. One end of eachv bar is preferably secured to its lug 117 and the other end is free to slide upon the lug 118 so that one of the trolleys may be moved ahead of the other while supporting the transverse rod when the partition needs to be located in an angular position, as when one side of a lot of merchandise is longer than the other. The vertical chains are suspended from the transverse bars 119 by rings 120, that are slidable along the bars 119 and carry collars 121 in which shanks 122 of swivel hooks 123 are journalled in the manner of the rings, previously described. The upper links of the chains are engaged within the hooks 123 and the hooks closed to retain the chains therein. The horizontal chains are of ample length to extend across the width of the truck and. to leave additional links 124 at the respective ends thereof to accommodate the width required of the barrier when the barrier is in an angular position. The ends of the free links are secured to the side walls of the truck. This is accomplished by longitudinal strips 126 that extend parallel with the rails and which are spaced along the height of the walls to connect the ends of the horizontal chains, as cases may require.

The strips 126 are best shown in Fig. 17. They are preferably of .T-shape cross section to supply base flanges 127 which are attached. to the side walls of the truck by screws 128. The cross flanges 129 project horizontally from the base flanges and are provided with a series of apertures 130 for connection therewith by one end of a double snap 131, the other end of which is connected with one of the links of the horizontal chains. The trolleys are retained in fixed position on the tracks by means of shoes 132 that are carried by lateral arms 133 on the inner sides of the trolley frame members 109. These shoes are urged into fractional contact with the bottom of the rails by means of thumb screws 134 that are threaded in the arms 133 that have their ends bearing on the under side of the shoes.

The angular movement of the partitions is restricted to the extensibility of the transverse rods by lugs 135 and 4 136 that project from the members 109 on the respective sides of the lugs 111 and 112, to limit the pivotal movement of the yokes with respect to the trolleys.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 11, the end barrier has right and left sections fixed at the side walls of the truck'body in the manner of'the single barrier previously described. In this instance, the transverse support includes tubular sections 11 and 11"supported at their adjacent ends by a central bracket The bracket 25' has hook portions 28' and 28 projecting in opposite directions and which have lugs 26 and 26" to engage within the ends of the rod sections. The adjacent edges of the barriers have tensioning bars sus-' pended byhangers 31 and 31".

The bracket 25 shown in Figs. 12 and 13, is attached to an angle 137 which in turn is adapted to be attached to the side jamb of the truck.

When loading an empty truck, all the barriers are moved to a position along the side Wall 4 so as to give free access to and from the interior of the truck body.

The first lot of merchandise is loaded in the forward end of the truck and the first of the barriers 97. is moved into position along the rear side of the merchandise. The trolleys 107 and 108 of the barriers move along the tracks resend 101 until the bar 119 is in position at the rear of the merchandise. In order to provide close. contact to support the load from shifting thereof under transport, the trolleys may be adjusted on the track to position the bar 119 at an angle depending upon the projections of the merchandise. Angular adjustment is effected by the bar 119 sliding on the longer lug 118. However, angular movement is limited to prevent complete withdrawal of the bar from the lug when the heads 113 at the ends of the bar engage one or the other of the lugs 135 or 136 of the trolleys. The trolleys are locked in position on the tracks by turning the set screw 134 to move the shoes 132into engagement with the lower flanges of the track and draw the wheels of the trolley against opposite sides of the flanges, asshown in Fig. 15. The chains are spreadout across the merchandise with the rings sliding on the bar until the free links at the ends of the transverse chains are in a position to connect with the flanges. 129 by means of the double snaps 131, that is, one end of a snap is engaged. in an adjacent opening and the other end of the snap is secured to one of the loose links whereby the transverse chains are tensioned across the width of the truck. The next lot of merchandise is loaded'in a similar manner and retained by the next transverse barrier.

When the truck is completely loaded, the endmost barrier which closes the rear end of the truck body, is moved laterally across the opening until the hanger 31 is in position where the ring 52 thereof drops through the passage 29 and engages the lateral terminal 30. A fulcrum is thus formed on which the tensioning bar pivots. when the lower end is drawn into parallel relation thereof with the side jamb and so that the head 65 on the locking bolt is in position to pass through the slot 67 of the keeper. After the head 65 has cleared the slot, the handle 75 is rotated to move the head 65 transversely of the slot 67 and then is pivoted on the pin 78 to cause the cam faces 76-to draw the tensioning bar in the direction of the keeper 68 thereby tensioning the transverse chains of the rear barrier. The hasp of a padlock may then be weight construction, easily operated and that they occupy a minimum space when suspended along the wall of the truck.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A barrier for separating individual lots of merchandise being transported in a carrier vehicle, said barrier including tracks adapted for attachment to opposite side walls of the vehicle, trolleys on said tracks, bar supports projecting from the trolleys, tubular bars having ends sleeved over the bar supports and one of said ends having sliding movement on its bar support to accommodate the effective length of the bar relatively to the trolleys when one of the trolleys is moved along the track forwardly of the other trolley, a reticulated curtain depending from said bar, and means for attaching sides of said curtain to sides of the vehicle.

2. A barrier for separating individual lots of merchandise being transported in a carrier vehicle, said barrier including tracks adapted for attachment to opposite side Walls of the vehicle, trolleys on said tracks, bar supports projecting from the trolleys, tubular bars having ends sleeved over the bar supports and one of said ends having sliding movement on its bar support to accommodate the. effective length of the bar relatively to the trolleys when one of the trolleys is moved along the track forwardly of the other trolley, chains depending from the bar, transverse chains connected with the depending chains, and means for attachment to sides of the vehicle for connecting ends of the transverse chains.

3. A barrier for separating individual lots of merchandise while under transport in a carrier vehicle including tracks adapted for attachment along opposite side walls 2 of a vehicle near the top thereof, trolleys movable along said tracksparms projecting from the trolleys, a transverse bar, lugs projecting from the trolleys, heads on said bar, means pivotally connecting the heads with the lugs on the trolley, said bar being extendable in eflective length to permit differential movement of the trolleys on the respective tracks, a divider depending from the transverse bar and slidable therealong from one side of the vehicle to the other to extend said divider across the space between said walls, and means adapted for connection with the sides of the vehicle for securing sides of said divider.

4. A barrier for separating individual lots of merchandise while under transport in a carrier vehicle including tracks adapted for attachment along opposite side walls of a vehicle near the top thereof, trolleys movable along said tracks, arms projecting from the trolleys, a transverse tubular bar extending between the trolleys, lugs projecting from the trolleys, heads having shanks engaged in ends of the bar and forming supports therefor, means pivotally connecting the heads with the lugs on the trolley to permit differential movement of the trolleys on their respective tracks, a divider depending from the tubular bar and slidable threalong fl'Ol'Il'Ol'lB side of thevehicle toward the other to extend the divider thereacross, and means adapted for connection with the sides of the vehicle for securing sides of said divider.

5. A barrier for support between the opposite side walls of a vehicle, an overhead bar including a tubular portion, means adapted for support on opposite side walls of the of the vehicle and having lugs projecting therefrom and W engageable in'ends of the tubular bar for supporting said tubular bar, side bars, one of said side bars being adapted for connection to one side of the vehicle, swivels connected to the side bars, the other side bar being movable on said tubular portion of the overhead bar, chains having rings slidable on the overhead bar to suspend said chains, transverse chains extending through links of the suspended chains and having ends connected to the swivels on said side bars, a keeper adapted to be attached to the side of the vehicle toward which the movable side bar is moved, a locking bolt having sliding rotatable support on the movable side bar and having a key shaped head projectable through a slot in the keeper, and a'c'amlever pivotally connected with the opposite end of the locking bolt and engageable with said bolt mounting means to turn said head transversely of the slot and to draw the movable side bar for tensioning the transverse chain.

6. A barrier for separating individual lots of merchandise while under transport in a carrier vehicle including tracks adapted for attachment along opposite sidewalls of a vehicle near the top thereof, trolleys movable along said tracks, arms projecting from the trolleys, a transverse tubular bar extending between the trolleys, lugs projecting from the trolleys, heads having shanks engaged in ends of the bar and forming supports therefor, means pivotally connecting the heads with the lugs on the trolley to permit differential movement of the trolleys on their respective tracks, spaced stops projecting from the trolleys on respective sides of said head to limit differential movement of the trolleys, a divider depending from the tubular bar and slidable therealong from one side of the vehicle toward the other to extend the divider thereacross, and means adapted for connection with the sides of the vehicle :for securing sides of said divider.

7. A barrier for support between opposite side walls of a vehicle, an overhead transverse tubular bar having open ends, means adapted for support on the opposite side walls and having generallvcylindrical lugs and projecting bosses of smaller diameter to provide annular shoulders, said bosses being of a size to fit within the open ends of the tubular bar to support the tubular bar with the ends thereof in abutting relation with said shoulders, one of said lugs having a transverse passageway opening from a top side of said lug and terminating in a lateral portion extending in the direction of the boss on said lug to provide an inset seat and an overlying hook portion, a side bar adapted for connection with one side of the vehicle, a chain closure having transverse chains connected to the side bar and vertical chains movably carried along the tubular bar, a movable side bar connected with opposite ends of the transverse chains of the closure, a slide hanger fixed to the upper end of the movable bar and having a ring portion encircling the tubular bar and adapted to slide along the tubular bar and to drop through said passageway into said seat in underlying relation with said hook portion when the movable bar is moved along the tubular bar for carrying the chain closure across the space between said side walls of the vehicle, and a clamp having a part fixed to a lower portion of the movable bar and an aligning part adapted to be fixed to the adjacent side Wall, a bolt slidable in one of said parts and having a head projectable laterally through an opening in the other part and a cam lever connected with said bolt and engageable with the said one part to draw the head of the bolt into clamping engagement with the other part for securing the movable side bar with the ring portion of the slide hanger in locked-down engagement with said seat and under said overlying hook portion.

8. A barrier for support between opposite side walls of a vehicle, a transverse bar, means adapted for attachment to the opposite "side walls for supporting the transverse bar and having generally cylindrical lugs connected with ends of said transverse bar, one of said lugs having a transverse passageway spaced from the end of the transverse bar that is connected therewith and terminating in a lateral portion extending in the direction of said end of the transverse bar to provide an inset seat and an overlying hook portion, a side bar adapted for connection with one side of the vehicle, a chain closure having transverse chains connected to the side bar and vertical chains movable along the transverse bar, a movable side bar connected with opposite ends of the transverse chains of the closure, a slide hanger fixed to the upper end of the movable bar and having a ring portion encircling the transverse bar and adapted to slide along the transverse bar and to drop through said passageway into'said seat in underlying relation with said hook portion when the movable bar is moved along the transverse bar for carrying the chain closure across the space between said side walls of the vehicle, and a clamp having a part fixed to a lower portion of the movable bar and an aligning part adapted to be fixed to the adjacent side wall, a bolt slidable in one of said parts and having a head projectable laterally through an opening in the other part and a cam'lever connected with said bolt and engageable with the said one part to draw the head of the bolt into clamping engagement with the other part for securing the movable side bar with the ring portion of the slide hanger in locked-down engagement with said seat and under said overlying hock portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 

